Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz told the weekly Council session that King Abdullah had initiated the interfaith dialogue to establish common ground of understanding among believers of monotheistic religions and followers of other cultures and civilizations, so that peace, justice and security would prevail worldwide.

A Council statement noted that that the conclusions reached by the participants of the Makkah and Madrid conferences earlier this year, and subsequently at the UN in New York, stress on the fact that differences among followers of religions and cultures lead nowhere but to extremism which causes destructive wars and disasters everywhere.

About the King’s speech to the G20 summit held in Washington last Saturday, Dr. Yusuf Bin Ahmed Al-Etahaimeen, Acting Minister of Culture and Information, said the King maintained that surveillance and control of financial sectors were necessary to overcome the current global economic crisis.

The Cabinet also noted the King’s reiteration that Saudi Arabia would fortify and protect its economy by continuing to spend on basic projects and services. Investments in the governmental and oil sectors are envisaged to exceed SR400 billion in the next five years.

On other matters, the Council, appreciating the declaration of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir for an unconditional ceasefire in Darfur, hoped that this would lead to a comprehensive ceasefire by all the parties involved and a peaceful settlement to the dispute.